US1075531A - Magneto ignition device. - Google Patents

Description

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented 0G11. 14, 1913.

H. II. WIXON.

MAGNET() IGNITION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.4, 1910.

Inven DF Howard H. WIXnn 'A urne ggd W1 Deseas 2%7( @M7/M I H. H. WIXON. MAGNET() IGNITION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.4, 1910. 1,075,531. Patented 0@t.14,1913. a SHEETS-SHEET z. l

. Inven nr award H. WIXnn E L '.qg/

A UFIIEHS WIIIESEES 4 @7% H. H. WIXON. MAGNETO IGNITION DEVICE. .APPLICATION FILED MAR.4,1910.

Patented 0013. I4, l93.

3 SHEETS-'SHEET 3.

WIIHESSEE Howard #To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES Img lnrirA oEEIcE.

HowanD H. WIXON, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A'ssI'GNoR To s'rRoMBERG MOTOR DEVICES COMPANY, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, a CORPORATIONOE ILLINOIS.,

Be it known that I, HOWARD II'WYIXON, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Chicago, in the county `of Cook. and Statev of Illinois, have invented a certaln new and useful Improvement inv Magneto Ignition Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention' relates to v electric generators, commonly known as magnetos, for the ignition of the combustible mixtures in gas engines, and is particularly adaptable for use in connection., with gas engines em'- ployed for the `propulsion of automobiles.

The object of myinve'ntion is to provide a magneto-generator in/which the various parts are,arranged withgreat compactness,`V .presenting a structure occupymg a comparatively small amount of space without sacrificing anything in the line of eiiiciency, thereby securing many mechanical and electrical advantages.

lAmong the main features which characterize my invention may be here mentioned: (1) a stationary induction winding having both primary and secondary coils; (2) an interrupter so constructed that the primary circuitis interrupted, first by one pair of contacts and then by another, in order tov distribute the injurious effect of the sparking among the several contacts, whereby the life of the interrupter-contacts is greatly prolonged; (3) the provision of a rotatable I spark-gap in the secondaryv circuit in parallel with the spark-plugs of the cylinders, this spark-gap constituting -not only asafety-gap but at the same time performing the function of a testing-gap to determine the relation of the moment of sparking with respect to the position ofthe cylinder-piston. readily understood by a consideration of the several views shown in the accompanying drawings, in' which:

Figure l is a longitudinal cross-sectional` view taken approximately on line 1-1 of Fig. 2, 'certain of the parts being, for' the fsake of'clea'rness, shown in full lines; Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional. view approximately on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, certain ofA Specification oLLetters Patent. Application led Hatch 4, 19 10. Serial No. 547,190.

Theseand other features will be" view of the upper portion ofthe machine, showing the distributer in place on the machine, certain of the parts being, for the sake of .clearness, shown in cross-section; Fig. 4 isI a cross-sectional view, in plan, taken 'Online 4-4 of Fig. l, and showing the interrupter casing in position -on the magneto; F ig.Y 5 is an interior view of the interrupter; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal crosssectional view of'a portion of the armature shaft, showingfthe laminations in the shaft;

Patented oet. 14; 1913.

Fig. Tis an end view of the main framework. of the machine as detached from the assoclated parts; Fig. 8 is a side view of the main framework, rand Fig. 9 is a diagram of the circuit connections.

Referring to Figs. r and 8, the main framework of the magneto-generator comprises a non-magnetic base-portion l, which, in practice, would ordinarily be made of brass, a pair of magnetic side-portions 2 and'.

pairs ofpermanent horse-shoe magnets for A the field-magnets, but the precise number of such magnets to be employed may, of course, be varied, depending upon the strength of the field whichit is desired to secure in any particular machine. The main framework has the cent-ral cylindrical-bore or space 5',

the sides of which formthe polar faces 6 and G. In this cylindrical space within the `framework is arranged a stationary induction-winding 7, comprising the inner vor primary coil S and the outer or secondary coilv 9. Suitable insulation separates the coils from each other and also surrounds the outside of vthe coils` as indicated cross-sectionally in Fig. 1. This induction-winding is a unitary part which may be readily inserted in place in the magneto andas readilyV withdrawn therefrom, after the other parts located in the cylindrical spacing have been removed, as will `hereinafter appear. The central ridge S onthe outside of the windingis just sufficiently smaller in diameter than the space in the framework to permit the wind- 55 of securing these `V`polar-extensions to the ving being inserted v'ithin the framework and held stationaryy therein. In'order t'o properly guide'the Winding in place when it is inserted wthintheA framework of themagneto, suitable guiding means .is provided, which, in the specific instance shown, consists of atlug 9,l carried by the'wind'ing and i -a cooperating oove 9a provided at a suit,

able point on t e framework within the cy'- lindric'al space, as indicated in Figs.`2 and 7.-

Asa further locking means for the winding when in place, a spring-pressed lug 11 supported in the framework 4by the screw- I threaded'tube 1,2 is adapted to enter a recess 13 in the'peripheral ridgerwof the'w'inding..

Uponwithdrawal of the windin the. yielding-lug 11 will be forced out .o the recess.-

i By thus. providing' guiding and locking means for the windingit'will always be os-7 sible to lace the windin upon the mac line in exact y the same positlon. This is impor- I tant whenit is considered that upon the outside of the'wind-ing arelocated the terminals whichrare intended to engage certain' contact members, as .will-be described subsequently,

mounted at certain points on the machi-ne.

In order that the exposed terminals' of the coils of the induction windin may register withv the contacts carried byt e framework, it is, of course, necessary that the, position ofthe winding on the vmagneto be always the same with respect to the contacts. This sameness of position is insured by some such suitable guiding and locking meansas above described... I Passing axially through theA winding is llthe armature shaft 10 v rotatably supported in'bearings 11 and 12. The bearing'll is carried by the'rear end-plate 13Jsecured to the frameworkof the machine, while the bearing 12 is mounted in the supportA 14, held in the'fr'ont end-plate 15. Anti-friction rollers 1 6 and 17 workin the bearings-,11'

A... and 12', respectively. A- vpair ofv segmental i armature shaft atopposite ends of the windpolar- extensions 18 and 19 are secured to the ing. In the particular instance illustrated,

the armature is screw-threaded at 20 and 2 1,

v,and the .polar-extensions gare mounted on these screw-threaded portions, locking screws 22 and 23 being' providedI yon. the

' polar-extensions to prevent accidental" disarrangement ofthe polar-.extensions 'afterI they have been `fastened in vposition on the armature shaft. Any other approved means armature shaft may be obviously employed,

although the screw-threaded engagement be! tween-theparts has the 'advantage of readily permittin axial as well as radial adjustment of t e polar-extensions onfthe arma- Ktureshaft The polar-extensions aswell as the armature' shaft are .of magnetic mate-` Ares rial-at least that portion of the armature Shaft which is included between. theA polarorder to provide a large surface on the faces ofthe polar-extensions I preferably form the latter substantially as shown in Fig. 1, from which it will be seen that the-polarextensions are lprovided with axial elongations 18 and 19', respectively, these elongations projecting into the space 7 formed 'between the-winding and the surrounding 'surface of the main framework. By'this arrangement the length of the machine is reduced, since, if the elongations of the polarvextensions projected outwardly away from each other, .it would be necessary to lengthen the pole-pieces accordingly, or else materially reduce the length of the induction-Winding, and thus reduce theefficiency of the machine. y The operation of the machine thus far -described will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As thearmature isrotated or oscillated the magnetic flux of the field will be ,periodicallyl short-circuited through vthe v winding, ir'st in one direction and then in the" reverse direction. This short-circuiting of the flux takes place when the polarextensions are moving .opposite'the polepieces, as indicated in Fig. 2, ^where the polar-extension '18 is shown in a position from the position indicated in Fig. 1.

iWhen the armature is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the'magnetic flux will pass, (as- .suming the polarities of the magnets ,as 1ndicated by N and S),-from the pole-piece 2 into the polar-extension 18, through the windingin a direction awayfrom the observer, returning way of. the polar-extension 19 tothe opposite pole-piece 2.

When the armature lis in a position 180 from that indicated in Fig. 2, the magnetic fiux will be reversed through the stationary winding, passing from the pole-piece 2 rinto the polar-extension 1 9, through the armature in -a direction toward the observer, and

returning throughthe(polar-extension` 18 y l into the south pole-piece 2.

I.VVhenthe inductor is set in rotation an I lelectromoti've force is induced in the Wind,

ing bytheaction of the field magnet. If

now the primary 'coil is short-circuited, the 'current flowing therethrough generates lines "of magnetic force which largely `neutralize the existing magnetic field,-'-that`is, they'l .125 ism through the coil. As soon as the circuit force back or oppose a change of Vmagnetin the primary is broken,'-the`counteraction yof the generated opposing flux ceases." y Owing tothe change which thereby instantaneously arises int-he number of the lines 13() tivelycoarse, and' comprises comparativelyy few turns. whlle the wire constituting the.

secondary coil is comparatively fine, and comprises a comparatively large number of turns, in order that the electromotive force Generated in the secondary coil may be sufciently high to cause sparking atV the sparkplugs of the engine cylinders. matter of mere mathematical calculation to thoseskilled in the art, and no further eX- planation is necessary here on this point.

The flux-carrying portion of the'arma'ture shaft is laminated at 10. in order to obviate or reduce to a minimum the eddy-currents set up by the ux variations.V This avoids undue heating of the armature metal and consequent waste -of energy. The laminations lie, of course, in theplane of the polarextensions of the armature, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6. In ordertosacrice nothing of the rigidity of the armature shaft, only the major portion of the'latter is laminated,

the laminations 10 being secured in the cuti sist entirely lo away portion `102. Of course, if desired, the linx-carrying 'portion of'the shaft may conto the solid end-portions of the shaft.

The armature shaft 10 has an extension 24, to which is rigidly secured the arm-25, having at its opposite ends a pair of rollers 26 and 2T pivoted at 28 and 29., respectively. These rollers are insulated from the arm by insulating bushings 30 and 31, as shownin Fig. l. This arm, with its oppositely-disposed engaging surfaces, shown as rollers in the specific embodiment illustrated, constitutes the movable contact memberk of my interrupten Just how this contact ,mem-- bercoperates with the circuit contacts of my interrupter is best illustrated in Fig.` 5, which shows the various parts that go to make up my interrupter mechanism.V Tol cally connected with "this support. The stationarv contacts 35 and 36,are carried by metallic lugs 39 and 40, respectively, which lugs find bearing in the outer metallic platev 41. This outer plate constitutes a cover for This is a.

lamin, and suitably secured the cylindrical support 32, and these two d `tively fixed contacts 35 and 36 are electrically connected in parallel. It will be` apparent from Fig. 5 that the rollers 26 and 2T of the interrupter-arm are of'unequal size, so that the oppositely-disposed. engaging surfaces of this arm maybe said to be at unequal distances from the axis of rotation. The purpose of this arrangement is to cause the interruption of the primary circuit. in which the interrupter is included, first by one pair of contactsand then by the other pair, in order that-the burden of sparking may be distributed between the two pairs of contacts. lIt is clear that in this way the life of the contacts is practically doubled, and the interrupter will endure substantially twice as long as it would if there were but a single pair of contacts for interrupting the primary circuit. If We assume the rotation of the interrupter-arm` .as indicated by the arrow in Fig.l 5, it will be seen that the contacts 33 and 35 Will first be separated. However, this will cause no interruption of the primary circuit, for the reason that the circuit is still closed through the parallel path which includes the lother pair of contacts, namely, the contacts 34 and 36. roller'27 will come into engagement with the movable contact 34 and separate the As the arm continues its rotation' the engine cylinder.A As the arm 25 continues..v

its rotation, the roller 27 willbe the first'to release its associated lmovable contact,land the circuit lwill, be closed, almost instantaneously after its interruption, through the contacts 34 and 36'. This will be followed in .Vj

quick succession by the closure of the parallel path which includes the other pairf of contacts 33 and 35. When ,the interrupterarm reaches a position 180o from that shown in Fig. 5, it will be clear that the larger roller 26 will first open the parallel path which includes the contacts 34 and 36. However,l this will not rinterrupt the primary circuit, because the circuit is still closed through the parallel path which in`- f cludes the switch-contacts 33 and 35.` As.l

soon as the smaller roller 27 separates 'the contact 33 from the contact 35 (whichwvill, of course, take place while the contacts 34 and 36 are held separatedby the roller 26)',

the primary circuit ywill again inter- "across the contacts 33 and rupted, and whatever @parking will take place at this moment of interruptionwill be By thus y causing interruption of theprimary circuit,

first through' one pair of contacts and then through the other pair, the life of the interruptei' is practically double that of. those interrupters in which but a single pair of contacts is employed. securedA by so arranging -the two pairs o'f contacts and the interruptor-arm that the.

. cyclical actuation of the contacts takes place in succession, the circuit` being interrupted alternately by one pair andftlien the othei' pair of contacts. i

In order that the interrupter-casing may be readily attached to the magneto Y'and as readily removed therefrom, a bearing-plate I43 is rotatably mountedin'tlie front endplate 15, as `shown in Figs. 1 and `4.

Through the opening 44v.in thisbearing ings 52,' aS best -seen in Fig. v4. Into the. openings 54Y extend the projections or buttons 55, which are pressed outwardly by suitable springs 56. 'lien it is desired to insert the interrupter-casing in placev on .the

magneto, Uit is only v'necessary 'to bring the openingsl offtliecasing into alineinent with the lugs 45 and 46'land press the casing inwardly until the parts are in the position shown in- Fig. 4, when thebuttons 57i-will i'estin the grooves of the head-portions 47 and 48 of the lugs 45and 4G. This produces a separable locking engagement between the rotatable base-plate 43 and the yinterruptercasing. As shown in Figs. 1 and'4, the front end-plate 15 1s provided with a circular shoulder l5 ,which forms a housing for the y interrupter casing. yAn insulating disk 57,

preferably securedto the base-plate 43, in-

y sgilates the latter-from the cylindricalv supshown in Fig. 4. This binding-post makes This is diagrammatically indicated `in Fig.,

port 32 of the vinterrupter-casing. From this it'will be seenthat the stationary contacts 35 and 36v are grounded to the magneto, while the movable contacts 33 andy 34 are insulated therefrom. The binding-post 58 is carried by the end-plate 15 and insulated therefrom by an insulating-bushing 59,A as

electicalcontact withthe cylindrical support' 32, and therefore with the movable contacts 33 and `34carried -byj said support.

And this advantage isV The coverl9, Whiehialsoshows the stationary cont- acts y 35 and 36 grounded to the machine at G.

The detailed description of this figure will be taken up later on in due course. The objectvof having the interrupter radially adjustable is to vary the moment of sparking with respect to the position of the engine cylinder; Since'the 'armature shaft is driven by the engine, and since the interrupter-arin 25 is driven by the armature, it will be lapparent that by rot-atingI the yinte-rrupteicasing the moment at whichtlie circuit will be interrupted one of the pairsof contacts may be Varied;with-respectl to the position of thel engine cylinder, or (which amounts tothe same thing) with respect to the position of the armature. In order to vget the best sparking it is customary to so time the moment of circuit-interruption that it will occur snb's'tantiallyat the moment of generation of maximumeleetromotive force, 'which (as is Well known) takesplace when the armature is about to interruptrthe magnetic short-circuit throughftlie inductionwinding, or-at least reduce itto a minimum. In my magneto this will take place when the armatureis substantially inthe position in l which itis shown 1n Fig. 1, or v1n a position 180 therefrom. In order to facilitate the v adjustment of the interrupter-casing I havev Vprovided an arm '60, arranged at. rightangles to the bar 53 and`removablyattaclied to the interrupter-casing in any A suitable manner. In the presentinstance the coverplate 41 of theinterrupter-casing carries a pair of'lugs 61', which enter openings 62 inthe arm'60, the spring-pressedfbuttons G3 providing a, separable locking engagement i 'between'` the two parts. The aim (S0 has an extension 64 provided with an opening 65 to afford connection with the timing level' ofl the nautomobile equipment, or with some other suitable part which the driver of the machine may conveniently 'operate to adjilst 1 the time of ignition.

I come now to the distributer which forms part yofthe' magneto outfit. vFor the sake of illustration, ithas been assumed that the precise embodiment of'my magneto-generator illustrated in tlie drawings is ,for a four-'cylinder engi-ne, and, therefore, the distributer is shown as provided with four contacts 6G, 67, 68 and 69 mounted in the insulating ring 70.' Each Contact is cleo-` trically .connected with a contact-terminal 71 by .conductor 72. From the terminals 71 connections lead to the spark-plugsof the engine cylinders. protect. the upper portions fof the contactterminals 71. The supporting-ring 70 and theA contact-terminals 71 arecar-riedby a base-plate 74 of'insulating material. i A correspondingly=shaped cover-plate 75,-also of insulating material, is arrangedfto fit over the base-plate 74, as indicated in Fig.'v 1, to

Insulating thinibles 73a inclose the parts and thereby.. protect them from liability to injury. Screws 76, passing through openings T7 in the baseand coverplates, secure what may be termed the stationary part of tle distributer to the endplate 15.` 'ithin the cylindrical space 78, formed b v the ring 70, moves thev annular member T9 of insulatingr material. A glass or mica-plate 80 carried by the cover 75 is providedjin front of the cylindrical space 78. The member 79 has ixedly mounted thereon the metallic arm 8l, which terminates at its outer end in an arc-shaped engaging surface 82, forming part of the periphery 83 of the annular member 79,'as best shown in Fig.'3. At its inner end the metallic arm 81 is in electrical contact with extension Stof the shaft 85.4 .It is on this yextension 81 that the annular member 79 is suitably secured, as by screw-threaded engagement. An insulating-bushing 86 is fixed upon the member 79 by having itsshank portion 87A-inserted in an opening 1n the annular member, as cross-sect-ionally shown in Fig. l. The fron-t portion-of the bushing 86 serves to cover up the arm 81. This bushing 4carries spark-electrode 88, whose shank portion 89 has electric connection with 'the metal disk 90, 4whichis preferably fixed to the insulating member 79.

The projection 91 ontheextension 84 co.

operates with the electrode' 88 to form a spark-gap. how this spark-gap forms a combined safety and testing spark-gap. For the present let us proceed with a `description of the remaining structural features of my magneto-l generator. The shaft 85 is housed lWithin the insulatingitube 92, which may, in actual practice, be perhaps preferably constructed' of two parts, fitted into each other as indicated in Fig. 1. The screw-threaded end 973 of the shaft 85 is inserted'in a thimble 94,

which isix'ed within the tube 92. A me! tallic contact-ring 95 is mounted upon the tube 92, and electrically connected .withthe shaft 85 by a conducting-pn-96. A metal 4tube 97 is fitted over oneend ofthe insulating tube 92 to provide support for the raceway 98, in which are located the rollers 99 y which work Iin the bearing-ring 100. This ring is supported in the' recess -portion 101 ofathe end-plate 15. From this it will be seen that the electrode 88 is electrically grounded to theframework of the machine through the "disk 90, the metallic tube 97, against which the disk 90 abuts. and through the roller-bearing justdescribed. VThe other electrode v91, on` the other hand, has electrical engagement with the metallic rin 95, which Fis insulated from the framewor of f the machine. The other end portion of the insulating tube 92 is connectedl with the metallic shaft 102,'having a recess 103 into which extends the reduced portion v104: of

I will subsequently explain the tube 92. A,pin 105 is inserted through the parts to prevent relative rotation thereof. At an'intermediate point theshaft 102 has mountedy thereon the race-way 106 for the anti-friction'rollers 107, which workin the bearing-ring 108. ,Thisringiis mounted in therecessed" portion 109 of t-he bearing-` plate 1-10. The end-plate 13' and the bear' ing-plate 110y are recessed to formv ajhousing 111, in which is located the large gear 112 -fixed upon the. end of the shaft 102. The

metal shaft 102, the insulating tube 94, and

the metallic tube 97 may be said to constitute l asfa: whole the distributer-shaftwhich operates the annular member 79. A gear 113. fixed upon the armature shaft is'` in mesh with the gear 112, thus communicating the rotation of ,the armature shaft to the dis-v tributer-arm 81I and to the movable sparkl gap formed by the electrodes 88 and 91 which move in synchronism with the distributerarm. The vgear-ratio between the gears 113 and 112 is such that the gear 113 makes two revolutions to every revolution of the gear- 112.' As the distributer-arm 81 is rotated its engaging surface 82 makes'elec-- trical ,contact with the projecting points 114 of the contacts 66, 67 ,.68 and 69. Preferably, these projecting points, or buttons, as

they `might 'be termed, are vmounted resiliently, so that good contact may be Vinsured between them and the distributer-arm 81.n p

Referring to Fig.. 8, the` cutaway portions 115 and 116 at opposite ends of the top member 3 are for the purpose of accommodating the recessed `portion 109 on the roc bearing member 110 and the recessed portion 101 on th`e front end-plate 15. Besides the insulating-block has mounted therein the contact-button 122, which is pressed against thev contact-ring 95l by` the spring 123.' Through this spring the contact-button has connection with an outer contactfvbutton 124,

which is adapted to'make electricalengagewinding 9, as diagrammatically indicated in. Fig. `2. )It will therefore be seen that the distributer-arm 81, as Well as thefelectrode 91,1,are velectrically connected with'the ter- `minal 125 of the secondary ,winding 9. This connection, which has yalready been describedstructurally in connection with Fig. 1. is diagrammatically -indicated\by-the` conductor v126 vin Figri'9. i The insulating-block also carries the contact 127, which is normally pressed outwardly by the spring `128 `located in a' recess in theinsulating-block.

vment with the terminal 125 of the'secondary the primary winding 8, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. The binding-post 130 is for connection with one terminal of the condenser 132. conveniently supported within the magneto on the top member 3. In the diagram of Fig. 9, the conductor 133 i represents the connection between the binding-post 1,30 and one terminal of the con.

' denser, while the conductor '134 represents the connection between the binding-post 130 i and .the terminal 131 of the primary winding. In the bottom ofthe base-portion 1 is secured the contact-terminal 135 insulated from the machine by the insulating-bushing 136.k VThe object of this contact-terminal 135 is to make connection with` the terminal 131 of theprimary winding throughthe conductor 137, as diagrammatically indicated in Figs. 2 and 9. The lterminals 135 and 58 `are adapted to be electrically connected, and this connection is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 9 by they conductor 138. Inasmuch as the contact-terminal 58 is electrically connected` with "the movable contacts 33 and 34 of t-he interrupter, it is apparent that the condenser 132 isfconnected in parallel with the interrupter. Referring again to Fig. 2, the lother terminals of the primary and secondary windings are grounded'to the machine, as diagrammatically indicated at 139.- In the actual construction of the induction-winding, the terminal- conductors 125, 131, 137 and 139 are preferably made of flat ribbon, and terminate in fixed positions on the peripheryl of y 'the insulation which covers theY winding.

It will now be appreciated -why it is necessary that the armature be always inserted .on the magneto in a predetermined. position. So far as the grounding-terminal 139 is concerned, this would make contact with the metal of the machine 1n various posi- .tions of the armature, but the terminal- conductors 125, 131 and 137 mustffall in place opposite the contacts 124, 127 and 135, respectively. This registering of the terminalconductors and the contacts is` insured by `the guiding means for thearmature, as previously explained. y

There remain to be described the `circuit connections shown in the diagrammatic View of Fig. 9, together with the operation of thesystem. Most of the parts shown in Fig. 9 have already been referred toin connection with the description of certain structural y features of my magneto. In order, however,

to complete the description of what is shown in Fig. 9,' I will add that tothe common I groundiG, which may be said "to represent the metal o the machine, are connected the otherI terminalvof the condenser by the conductor 140, the other terminals of the primary andsecondary. windings by the conyductors`141 and 142, respectively, and `the 'stationary contacts 35'and 36 by the conductor 143. The ground for the electrode 88 carried by the movable member-of the distributer'is indicated at 144. -'The distributer contacts 66, 67, 68 and 69 are connected by conductors 145, 146, 147 and 148, respectively, to the electrodes 149 of the sparkplugs. The other set of electrodes 150 is connected to ground, as indicated lat 151. Therparallel connection of the movable contacts 33 and 34 of the interrupter is indicatedby thesring-conductor 32', which is supposed to represent diagrammatically the cylindrical support 32 on which the movable contacts are mounted. The conductor 152 represents the electrical connection between the bindingJpost 58 and the cylindrical support indicated diagrammatically by 32. The parallel connection of the fxedfcontacts 35 and 36 is indicated by the. conductors 153 and '154, which are connected tothe com-` mon conductor 143. It will be apparent, from a considerationfof the circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 9, that the condenser is connected in parallel with the interrupter,

that the pairs of interrupter-.contacts are connected in parallel with each other, yand that the electrodes 88 and 91 are arranged in parallel with the electrodes of the cylinder spark-plugs. The, object of having the condenser in parallel with the interrupter is, as is well known by those skilled in the art, to prevent as-much -as possible the sparking at 'theelectrodes which interrupt the yprimary circuit, and also tofincrase the` voltage in thersecondary circuit. by accelerating the flux variations through the induction-` 'windingz I have previously stated that the electrodes 88 and 91 constitute a combinedv safety and testing-gap. How they constitute a safety-gap .is apparent from thefact that these electrodes are 1n parallel with the i electrodes of the spark-plugs, so that if for any reason the current should fail" to leap across the electrodes of the spark-plug which the distributer has connected in the circuit of the secondary winding, the secondary current surging through the secondary circuit under high pressure would leap across the spark-gap formed by the terminals 88 and 91., thus discharging the sec ondary circuit with safety.

the electrodes 88J and 91 is brought about by the fact that the spark-gap rotatesin unison i with the distributer-arm and in alinement Otherwise,- there would-be danger of the secondary`Y *netic iiux through sald winding, an intertherewith, so that by disconnecting a cylinder spark-plug from the distributer and operating the magneto the position of the 'spark that will pass across the electrodes 88 and 91 will indicate at what position of wthe engine-piston the moment of sparking is occrring.l If thejsparking is too early or l tage an my invention,

too late the interrupter may be readily adljustedV inthe manner previously described. Of course. it is vobvious testingap does not depend for itsadvan- 'utility upon the other features of and I therefore claim the same broadly. Similarly does lmy novel form ofl interrupter `not depend for its utility upon the presence of the other features of :my invention herein described, as will be apparent from- 'certain of the appended clalms.

Having thus-'described my invention, what I claim as. new and desire to secure by Let- ,ters Patent of the United States is:- 'n

i 1. In a` magneto-generator, ,a non-magnetic base-portion, .a pair of magnetic sideportions secured to said base-portion and forming polepieces, a non-magneticy top'- portion secured .to saidf pole-pieces and provided .with a longitudinal opening, said four portions constituting a hollow frame-work, magnets incontact with said pole-pieces, a stationary` lgenerator winding .arranged -withinsaid framework, an unwound armature'rotatable within said framework and having extensions passing over the periphery of the winding'for reversing '.the'magrupter carried onthe framework 'at one end and operated bythe armature shaft, a distributer alsoc'arried `on the framework at the same end, an operating shaft for said distributer passing through the opening in the top-portion' of said framework, and a gear connection between said two shafts' at i thel other end of such framework.

\ A2.In a magneto-generator for ignition purposes, the combination of a framework,

magnets supported thereby, a pair' of end'- plates secured to said'framework, a distrib# uter and an interrupter mounted one above the other uponl one of said end-plates, a

generator f winding between said magnet ends, a rotatable armature having extcn winding 'for reversing the magnetic fiux winding disposed therein, a rotatable armasions -passing over the periphery of the throughsaid winding, a shaft on which said armatnre ismounted, said shaft operating the interrupter, a second shaftfor-'operating the-distributer, and gearing at the other end-plate for connecting' said shafts together. A N

f 3.- In a magneto-generator, the combination of a magnetic field-frame, ageneratorture for reversing the magnetic-flux through said winding, a shaft for said armature that this rotatable journaled vin theends of said Held-frame, a

radial arm securedto one end of said shaft, a plurality of 4contacts disposed in proximity to said tacts are mounted to be actuated by said arm, a rotatable base-plate carried by the arm, 'a' casing in which saidconfield-frame Vconcentrically withthe armature axis, and means for securing locking engagementl between said casing and said base-plate when the casing is placedin position on the magneto, said means permitting ready removal fromthe casing.

4. In a magneto-generator having a fieldyframe, a generator-winding and an armature, the combination of a rotatable baseplate mounted in one end of thefield-frame concentrically with the armature axis,' ay

pair of lugs extending axially from said base-plate, a cylindrical casing provided with`openings for receiving said lugs when the casing is insertedin place on the magneto, whereby engagement isxsecured between the casing and the base-plate .to permit radial adjustment -yof the casing and ready removal thereoffrom the magneto, a plurality of circuitecontacts carried by said casing, and an interrupter-arm operated by the. armature shaft for actuating said coni tacts.

45'. "In a magneto-generator, a, non-magnetic base-portion, a pair of magnetlc Sldeportions secured to said base-portion and forming pole-pieces, a non-magnetic topportion secured to said pole-pieces and provided with a longitudinal opening, said four portions constituting a hollow framework,

-magnets in contact with said pole-pieces, a

block and having connection with said windi ingfa contactring mounted on the insulated portion of the distributer-shaft and connected with a metallic portion thereof, said contact-ring engaging one lof said Contact v members, and a gear connection between said shafts. I

6,y In a magneto'generator, a field frame,

a stationary gemerator winding arranged within saidframe, an unwound armature rotatable within sald frame and havlng eX- tensions passing'over the periphery 'of the e winding ffor receiving the magnetic flux through said winding, an interrupter cara stationary generator Winding 'arranged' .within said frame, an unwound armature rotatable within said frame'and having extensions passing over the periphery of-the winding for receiving lthe magnetic ux through said winding, an inte'rupter carred on the frame at one endand .o'erated by the armature shaft,`a distributer a so carried on` the frame at .the same end, an operating shaftv for `said distributer lpassing through an opening in said frame, and a 15 gear connection between said tw'o shafts at theother end of said frame. In witness whereof, I hereunto'subscribe` niy name this 1st day of March, A. D. 1910.

i HOWARD H. IVIXON. IVitnesses: i' f -y CHARLES A. BROWN, l

A. A. THOMAS.

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